Pacific Crest Trail Grant
$5,000 grant to help one Washingtonian thru-hike the PCT.
Our Story & Mission
Why We Care
The Pacific Crest Trail is a world-class hike that travels through the backyard of each of us who live in Washington State.
Hikers from all over the globe come here to hike it, but to many people, it is inaccessible because the hike costs about $7,000-$10,000.
We want to change this and created an annual $5,000 grant for a Washingtonian to hike the PCT from Mexico to Canada.
Our Mission
To annually help one Washingtonian aged 18-33 achieve their dream of thru-hiking the PCT.
Why We Are Doing This
Hiking the PCT is a worthy goal that can change a life. We are avid hikers wanting to give back in a meaningful way. Hiking the PCT is expensive, and we want to remove cost as a barrier.
Who We Are
We are a committee of three who believe in this goal. One of us, Nav, has hiked the PCT; one of us, Keya, has dreams of hiking it after graduating from college; and one of us, Geoff, has been hiking for over 50 years and has section-hiked the Washington PCT.
This is a privately funded grant and not affiliated with any organization.
This is our way of paying it forward.
How It Works
Deadline: Complete the application by January 31 of the year the PCT is scheduled to be hiked.
Criteria: The committee will determine, by a unanimous vote, who meets the following criteria:
Have received a PCTA permit;
Be 18-33 on April 1 of the year you want to thru-hike the PCT;
Have significant ties to Washington State;
Have a financial need;
Have the ability to complete the PCT based on past outdoor experience;
Have a compelling reason well articulated for wanting to hike the PCT; and
Be willing to help pay it forward.
Process:
First, all eligible applicants meeting the criteria will be placed in a lottery, and five will be selected at random.
Second, the five applicants will be required to provide the Grant Committee with a driver's license or other government ID and to be interviewed to ensure they meet the criteria.
Finally, after interviews, all remaining eligible applicants will be placed in a lottery, and the grant recipient will be picked at random.
Grant Recipient: The recipient will receive $2000 upon award and $750 per month on the trail, up to $5000. Proof of hiking progress must be provided to the PCT Grant Committee.
Recipient Responsibilities
Begin the hike at the Mexico/California border.
Send us trip reports at least every 30 days. Let us know if you stop hiking.
Honor the commitment to “pay it forward.”
2026 Grant Recipient
2/13/26: We could not be more thrilled than to have our inaugural grant go to Kayla. Kayla is 32 years old and a resident of Bellingham, Washington, with a deep connection to the outdoors. Since beginning her backpacking journey in 2019, she has discovered both the beauty and the hardship of the wilderness, finding a path toward healing, growth, and self-understanding along the way.
Kayla is a seasonal guide, leading hikers through Washington’s spectacular national parks, including Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. She is also a photographer and a yoga teacher, finding ways to explore the world and bring people together - and in her free time, she heads to the backcountry to recharge.
Her journey to the Pacific Crest Trail is rooted in more than adventure. She is creating a blueprint for a life she never had or saw growing up - a life shaped with intention, vulnerability, and courage. Grief has carved a profound path through her life, and she has learned to find strength and growth in difficult places. The wilderness has taught her similar lessons: it offers beauty and refuge, but also challenge and discomfort.
Receiving thePCT Grant allows her to pursue the long-held dream that almost felt out of reach: thru-hiking from Mexico to Canada. She is motivated not only by the trail's challenge but also by the personal growth, storytelling, and community connection it fosters. This grant makes the journey possible, and she reports that she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent Washington’s hiking community on the trail.
Kayla's journey will be documented on her blog, https://thetrek.co/author/kayla-provost/ and her Instagram account, https://www.instagram.com/_freenomad/.
We wish you safety and success, Kayla!
Get in touch
Please reach out to us with any questions.